EP2405871B1 - Kompensationssystem für implantierbaren Aktuator - Google Patents

Kompensationssystem für implantierbaren Aktuator Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2405871B1
EP2405871B1 EP10750245.2A EP10750245A EP2405871B1 EP 2405871 B1 EP2405871 B1 EP 2405871B1 EP 10750245 A EP10750245 A EP 10750245A EP 2405871 B1 EP2405871 B1 EP 2405871B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
actuator
implantable
compensation
external pressure
pressure sensor
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP10750245.2A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP2405871A4 (de
EP2405871A1 (de
Inventor
Peter Bart Jos Van Gerwen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Cochlear Ltd
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Cochlear Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2009901073A external-priority patent/AU2009901073A0/en
Application filed by Cochlear Ltd filed Critical Cochlear Ltd
Publication of EP2405871A1 publication Critical patent/EP2405871A1/de
Publication of EP2405871A4 publication Critical patent/EP2405871A4/de
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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/60—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles
    • H04R25/604—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of acoustic or vibrational transducers
    • H04R25/606—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of acoustic or vibrational transducers acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/30—Monitoring or testing of hearing aids, e.g. functioning, settings, battery power
    • H04R25/305—Self-monitoring or self-testing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2225/41—Detection or adaptation of hearing aid parameters or programs to listening situation, e.g. pub, forest
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2225/61—Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2460/00—Details of hearing devices, i.e. of ear- or headphones covered by H04R1/10 or H04R5/033 but not provided for in any of their subgroups, or of hearing aids covered by H04R25/00 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2460/05—Electronic compensation of the occlusion effect
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/55—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception using an external connection, either wireless or wired
    • H04R25/554—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception using an external connection, either wireless or wired using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/60—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles
    • H04R25/603—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R3/00—Circuits for transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
    • H04R3/005—Circuits for transducers, loudspeakers or microphones for combining the signals of two or more microphones

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an implantable actuator.
  • the present invention relates to an implantable actuator for direct stimulation of the middle and inner ear.
  • DACS direct acoustic cochlear stimulation
  • a DACS actuator can circumvent damage to the outer and/or middle ear of a recipient to treat hearing loss.
  • the DACS actuator is essentially replicating in whole or in part the operation of the middle ear, these devices are necessarily extremely finely balanced electromechanical systems.
  • DACS actuator may be optimised for operation at sea level and normal weather conditions, a recipient may find the performance of the actuator affected by variations in these conditions leading to degradation in the performance of the hearing aid device.
  • US 2007/027465 A1 relates to a vestibular canal plug and discloses all of the features in the preamble of claim 1.
  • DACS actuator 100 includes a housing 1 formed from titanium tubing that is substantially cylindrical and of circular cross section.
  • DACS actuator 100 further includes a titanium diaphragm 6, a titanium ring 21 and a multi-pin feedthrough 9 which are joined by hermetic laser welds.
  • Electromechanical driving arrangement 50 which carries the input signal to electromechanical driving arrangement 50 is connected to feedthrough 9.
  • electromechanical driving arrangement 50 may be covered by a silicone filled titanium cap 10.
  • the titanium cap 10 provides multiple flat surface regions to allow secure manipulation of the device during implantation with surgical tweezers or tongs.
  • the titanium cap 10 also has a conical shape that provides mechanical transition between the small diameter of the lead 11 and larger diameter of the titanium housing 1.
  • Armature 2 and shaft 12 form the moving part of DACS actuator 100.
  • armature 2 and shaft 12 form part of the magnetic circuits which drive electromechanical driving arrangement 50 they are made of soft magnetic alloys.
  • Shaft 12 is made of titanium to enable hermetic closing of the actuator by welding it to a ring 21.
  • the resulting moving structure is elastically supported at one side by a diaphragm 6, which performs the function of a restoring spring. As such, diaphragm 6 prevents magnetic snap over.
  • shaft 12 is supported in the longitudinal direction by a spring bearing 5 having a spring constant sufficient to provoke, together with diaphragm 6, the demanded dynamic characteristic of this spring-mass structure.
  • the armature 2 is centred between two permanent magnets 3a and 3b, thereby forming two working gaps 17a and 17b between armature 2 and magnets 3a and 3b respectively.
  • Both magnets 3a and 3b are polarized in the same direction substantially in parallel to the actuator axis and the direction of movement of shaft 12, and provide polarizing flux in working gaps 17a and 17b that extends through the armature 2.
  • This first magnetic circuit is closed through the magnet supports 16 and the short sleeve 15 which are again fabricated from soft magnetic alloys.
  • a second magnetic circuit comprises signal coil 4, coil core 13, long sleeve 14, the magnet support 16, the armature 2 and the shaft 12.
  • Signal coil 4 is connected to lead 11 by virtue of feedthrough 9.
  • all elements forming the second magnetic circuit other than the signal coil 4 are made of soft magnetic alloys to conduct the signal flux generated by coil 4.
  • This magnetic signal circuit includes two air gaps: the working gap 17b and a transverse gap 18 formed between the coil core 13 and the shaft 12. The transverse gap 18 between the coil core 13 and shaft 12 is minimized in order to provide a low reluctance thereby minimizing losses in the magnetic circuit.
  • the signal flux passing through the working gap 17b has the effect of modulating the polarizing flux generated by the magnets 3a and 3b in the process either increasing or decreasing the flux in the working gap 17b depending on the direction of the current passing through the signal coil 4.
  • This increases or decreases the attractive force in gap 17b compared to the constant polarizing flux in gap 17a which results in a net force pulling the armature upwards or downwards.
  • small changes in the signal flux generated by coil 4 will result in corresponding actuation of shaft 12 thereby providing an electromechanical actuator of enhanced sensitivity.
  • FIG. 3 there is shown a system overview of one example of an implantable hearing aid device or DACS actuator system 300 incorporating a DACS actuator 100 such as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 .
  • the term implantable hearing aid device 300 is taken throughout the specification to mean a hearing aid device having one or more components which are implanted within a recipient.
  • Implantable hearing aid device 300 includes a microphone 310 which may be implanted or alternatively is located externally in a suitable location such as close to the outer ear of the recipient.
  • the microphone output signal 310A is processed by speech processor unit 320 which once again may be an implanted component or alternatively be located external to the recipient in a location such as behind the ear of the recipient.
  • Speech processor unit 320 generates coded signals 320A which are further processed by stimulator unit 330 which typically is an implanted component and which generates stimulation signals 330A which drive DACS actuator 100.
  • a radio receiver arrangement (not shown) may be employed to transmit information from the speech processor unit 320 to the stimulator unit 330.
  • Stimulation signals 330A are generated based on the microphone output signal 310A, a hearing impairment profile which characterises the hearing loss of the recipient of the implantable hearing device 300 and the transfer function of DACS actuator 100 which has a resonance peak of approximately 1 kHz.
  • the hearing impairment profile is utilised by the speech processor unit 320 to generate coded signals 320 and the transfer function of DACS actuator 100 is utilised by the stimulator unit 330 when generating stimulation signals 330A as it characterises the physical behaviour of the actuator.
  • the various stages of processing may be undertaken separately or in combination to varying degrees according to the requirements of implantable hearing aid device 300.
  • FIG. 4 there is shown is a plot of the amplitude transfer function (i.e. amplitude versus frequency) of a DACS actuator of the type illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 depicting the change in the resonance behaviour of the actuator 100 as a function of external pressure.
  • the resonance peak of DACS actuator 100 will vary according to local pressure conditions which will govern the external pressure experienced by DACS actuator.
  • the internal pressure within sealed housing 1 of DACS actuator 100 is 1013 mbar and the variation of the amplitude transfer function is plotted for external pressures ranging from 900 mbar to 1160 mbar.
  • This variation in the transfer function is primarily due to the housing 1 of DACS actuator 100 being sealed, thereby preventing equalisation of pressure between the inside and outside of housing 1. Because of this imbalance in pressure between the inside and outside of housing 1 an associated imbalance in the location of the armature 2 results which then affects the resonance frequency of the device as depicted in Figure 4 . As such, any gain compensation directed to the position and structure of the initial resonance peak will now be directed towards an incorrect resonance characterisation resulting in suboptimal performance of DACS actuator 100 and in turn hearing aid device 300.
  • Compensation system 400 includes a pressure measurement means 410 for measuring an external pressure 410A outside of housing 1 and compensation means or module 420 for determining a compensation factor 420A based on the measured external air pressure 410A.
  • pressure measurement means 410 includes an external pressure sensor located 415 outside of the sensor housing 1 to measure external pressure.
  • External pressure sensor 415 may be located at any suitable location.
  • the external pressure sensor 415 may form part of or be integrated with the DACS actuator 100 and be located on the outer surface of housing 1 with associated sensor electronics located within housing 1 and electronically communicated to stimulator unit by actuator lead 11.
  • the external pressure sensor 415 is located with or integrated with another of the implanted components such as the stimulator unit 330.
  • the external pressure sensor is a separate implantable component.
  • the external pressure sensor 415 may be located with or integrated with the external microphone 310 or in another embodiment be located with or integrated with the external speech processor unit 320 which may be implemented as a behind the ear (BTE) component.
  • external pressure sensor 415 may be implemented as the only external component (i.e. to be used externally to the recipient) of an otherwise fully implanted hearing aid device or more generally an implantable actuator with pressure information transmitted by wireless link to one of the implanted components.
  • the external pressure sensor may be worn by the recipient or located in the general environment of the recipient.
  • compensation module 420 determines a compensation factor 420A which is directed to stimulator unit 330 and combined with stimulator signal 330A to adjust the driving arrangement 50 of DACS actuator 100 to compensate for variations in the external pressure outside of housing 1.
  • compensation factor 420A may take the form of a modified transfer function such as depicted in Figure 4 based on the measured external pressure and an assumed internal pressure for the housing 1 of 1013 mbar. As an example, if the measured external pressure is 1100 mbar then the associated transfer function corresponding to that value would be determined by compensation module 420 and employed by stimulator unit 330.
  • stimulator unit 330 will generate stimulation signals 330A based on the true transfer function of DACS actuator 100 as opposed to an assumed transfer function as is the case with prior art devices.
  • Compensation factor 420A may also incorporate separate components 420B, 420C (shown in dashed lines) directed to speech processor unit 320 and DACS actuator 100 respectively.
  • the physical operating characteristics of DACS actuator 100 are modified based on compensation factor 420C to adjust the resonance behaviour back to its original form. As an example, this may be achieved by applying a DC signal and/or an asymmetrical AC signal to signal coil 4 in accordance with compensation factor 420C.
  • compensation factors may be directed to any component or combination of components of hearing aid device 300.
  • the compensation module 420 or processor that determines the compensation factor(s) may be located separately or in combination with in any one of the components of the hearing aid device 300.
  • compensation system 500 further includes an internal pressure sensor 416 located inside of housing 1 (as also shown in dashed outline) to measure internal pressure.
  • the internal pressure is not expected to vary greatly as housing 1 is sealed, there may be some pressure drift expected due to the increasingly longer lifetimes that are being achieved with implantable devices (i.e. greater than 60 years) and the potential for outgassing of components.
  • the internal pressure may vary in accordance with temperature.
  • a differential pressure sensor is employed having an external pressure sensing region directed outside of housing 1 and an internal pressure sensing region located inside of housing 1.
  • the compensation factor 420A (and 420B, 420C where appropriate) will be based on both the external pressure and the internal pressure.
  • the transfer functions depicted in Figure 4 which are based on an assumed value of 1013 mbar for the internal pressure, will now also include a term or free parameter dependent on the internal pressure measured in housing 1 which will further alter the characteristics of the transfer function. Accordingly, a modified transfer function will be determined dependent on both the external pressure and the internal pressure. This modified transfer function may then be used to compensate the DACS actuator 300 for variations in both the external and internal pressure relative to the housing as referred to above.
  • a further situation where the compensation system and method will be effective to compensate for differences between the external and internal pressure relative to the housing is where a recipient having a fully implantable or semi-implantable actuator incorporating waterproof external parts may be swimming or otherwise underwater.
  • the compensation factor may be based only on the internal pressure.
  • a method flowchart of a method 600 for compensating an implantable actuator for pressure variations according to further illustrative embodiments.
  • the external pressure outside of the sealed housing of the actuator is measured by an external pressure sensor as has been previously described.
  • a compensation factor is determined which in one illustrative embodiment is based on the external pressure measured at step 610.
  • the compensation factor determined at step 620 is based on measuring the internal pressure within the sealed housing at step 630.
  • the compensation factor determined at step 620 is determined based on both the measured internal pressure and external pressure.
  • the compensation factor may be in the form of a modified transfer function for the implantable actuator.
  • compensation system and method has been described in relation to a DACS stimulator it will be appreciated that the compensation system and method will have application to other implantable actuators consistent with the principles described in the specification.
  • Some example actuators where the compensation system and method may be applicable include implantable drug delivery systems or microphones incorporating sealed housings.
  • Pressure sensors of any suitable type may be used including but not limited to those based on the measurement of an applied force over a predetermined area such as by the use of a diaphragm, piston, tube or bellows arrangement in combination with an electronic measuring arrangement which may be based on one or more of the following physical principles including but not limited to piezo resistive or electric, capacitive, electromagnetic, optical, thermal conductive, resonant or potentiometric effects.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Neurosurgery (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Prostheses (AREA)

Claims (12)

  1. Kompensationssystem (400, 500) für einen implantierbaren Aktuator (100) mit einem abgedichteten Gehäuse (1), das eine Antriebsanordnung (50) für den Aktuator (100) enthält, wobei das Kompensationssystem (400, 500) umfasst:
    einen Außendrucksensor (415), der ausgebildet ist, einen Außendruck außerhalb des abgedichteten Gehäuses (1) zu messen, und
    ein Kompensationsmodul (420), das ausgebildet ist, einen Kompensationsfaktor (420A) für den implantierbaren Aktuator (100) auf der Grundlage des Außendrucks zu ermitteln, wobei das Kompensationsmodul einen Kompensationsfaktor in Form einer modifizierten Transferfunktion für den implantierbaren Aktuator ermittelt und wobei die modifizierte Transferfunktion der Antriebsanordnung des Aktuators zugeordnet ist.
  2. Kompensationssystem (400, 500) nach Anspruch 1, das ferner umfasst:
    einen Innendrucksensor (416), der ausgebildet ist, den Innendruck in dem abgedichteten Gehäuse (1) zu messen.
  3. Kompensationssystem (400, 500) nach Anspruch 2, wobei der Außendrucksensor (415) und der Innendrucksensor (416) als ein Differenzdrucksensor kombiniert sind.
  4. Kompensationssystem (400, 500) nach Anspruch 2 oder 3, wobei das Kompensationsmodul (420) den Kompensationsfaktor (420A) auf der Grundlage des Außendrucks und des Innendrucks ermittelt.
  5. Kompensationssystem (400, 500) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Außendrucksensor (415) eine implantierbare Komponente ist.
  6. Kompensationssystem (400, 500) nach Anspruch 6, wobei der Außendrucksensor (415) in einer oder mehreren der implantierbaren Komponenten des implantierbaren Aktuators (100) integriert ist.
  7. Kompensationssystem (400, 500) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Außendrucksensor (415) eine externe Komponente ist, die ausgebildet ist, außerhalb des Empfängers des implantierbaren Aktuators (100) verwendet zu werden.
  8. Kompensationssystem (400, 500) nach Anspruch 7, wobei der implantiere Aktuator (100) ferner eine oder mehrere externe Komponenten aufweist, die ausgebildet sind, außerhalb des Empfängers des implantierbaren Aktuators (100) verwendet zu werden, und wobei der Außendrucksensor (415) in einer oder mehreren der externen Komponenten des implantieren Aktuators (100) integriert ist.
  9. Kompensationssystem (400, 500) nach Anspruch 7, wobei der Außendrucksensor (415) ausgebildet ist, entfernt von dem Empfänger des implantieren Aktuators (100) verwendet zu werden, und wobei Außendruckinformation durch eine Drahtlosverbindung bereitgestellt wird.
  10. Verfahren (600) zum Kompensieren eines implantierbaren Aktuators (100) in Bezug auf Druckschwankungen, wobei der implantiere Aktuator (100) ein abgedichtetes Gehäuse (1) aufweist, das eine Antriebsanordnung (50) für den Aktuator (100) enthält, wobei das Verfahren (600) umfasst:
    Messen (610) eines Außendrucks außerhalb des abgedichteten Gehäuses (1); und
    Ermitteln (620) eines Kompensationsfaktors (420A) für die Antriebsanordnung, wobei der Kompensationsfaktor auf dem Außendruck beruht,
    wobei der Kompensationsfaktor (420A) in Form einer modifizierten Transferfunktion für den implantierbaren Aktuator (100) vorliegt, und
    wobei die modifizierte Transferfunktion der Antriebsanordnung (50) des Aktuators (1) zugeordnet ist.
  11. Verfahren (600) nach Anspruch 10, wobei der Kompensationsfaktor (420A) für die Antriebsanordnung (50) des implantierbaren Aktuators (100) vorgesehen ist.
  12. Verfahren (600) nach Anspruch 11, das ferner umfasst:
    Messen (630) eines Innendrucks in dem abgedichteten Gehäuse (1),
    wobei Ermitteln eines Kompensationsfaktors (420A) umfasst: Gründen des Kompensationsfaktors (420A) auf sowohl den Außendruck als auch den Innendruck.
EP10750245.2A 2009-03-13 2010-03-11 Kompensationssystem für implantierbaren Aktuator Active EP2405871B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2009901073A AU2009901073A0 (en) 2009-03-13 Improved dacs actuator
PCT/AU2010/000283 WO2010102342A1 (en) 2009-03-13 2010-03-11 Improved dacs actuator

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2405871A1 EP2405871A1 (de) 2012-01-18
EP2405871A4 EP2405871A4 (de) 2012-10-31
EP2405871B1 true EP2405871B1 (de) 2018-01-10

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP10750245.2A Active EP2405871B1 (de) 2009-03-13 2010-03-11 Kompensationssystem für implantierbaren Aktuator

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US (3) US9247357B2 (de)
EP (1) EP2405871B1 (de)
WO (1) WO2010102342A1 (de)

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US10595141B2 (en) 2020-03-17
US20120041516A1 (en) 2012-02-16
US9247357B2 (en) 2016-01-26
EP2405871A4 (de) 2012-10-31
EP2405871A1 (de) 2012-01-18
US20160198273A1 (en) 2016-07-07
US20200260201A1 (en) 2020-08-13
WO2010102342A1 (en) 2010-09-16
US11477586B2 (en) 2022-10-18

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